The Great Bike Light Problem
Posted by Elly Blue (Columnist) on October 21st, 2008 at 10:07 am
[This article was written by contributor Elly Blue. You can read more from Ms. Blue here.]
"Do not ride at night," urges the Huffy Bicycle Company website. "Have someone pick you up if you're out after dark or walk your bike home."
This attitude is fortunately not the norm in Portland, where ever-increasing numbers of cyclists ride year-round and bike light education and/or giveaway programs abound.
You've got to have bike lights here. This becomes more obvious every time you encounter an unlit biker at night.
(Photo © J. Maus)
Bike lights are also the law in Oregon -- white in front, red in the rear, both reasonably visible. (A red reflector is legally adequate in the rear, but in practice it isn't visible to anyone on bike or foot, or in a car that's approaching from the side.)
Lights are still a problem, though, even for those who already have them and are committed to using them.
Battery-powered, plastic-encased blinking lights (a.k.a. "blinkies") are the norm, but maintaining them can be a real headache.
You get caught out at night without them. You forget to turn them on. Someone steals them when you run into the grocery store and you have to spend $20-50 bucks on a new set. You drop them and the casing shatters. The bulbs burn out. The batteries fade in the middle of a long ride. Or they run out after being on in your bag all day.
"Lights should be built into bicycles as a matter of course...not as accessories, but as indispensable, functional parts of the bike."
We've all figured out ways to get around this, like investing in rechargeable batteries, sturdier lights, and better mounting systems, or attaching the lights to your helmet so you never forget to bring them -- but the costs still add up, and keeping the batteries fresh and the lights handy is a constant pain in the neck.
Recent public education efforts about the importance of lights are important (and effective). But these campaigns will be an uphill battle until we have a shift in attitudes about bike lights that includes the industry and bike shops as well.
In the United States, bike lights are still perceived as an accessory at best; at worst -- like on Huffy's web site -- their existence is not even acknowledged. Lights should be built into bicycles as a matter of course, or at least sold along with them in the way that wheels, brakes, and handlebars are -- not as accessories but as indispensable, functional parts of the bike.
In my quest to solve the Great Bike Light Problem, I recently sprang for a set of Reelights (available locally Clever Cycles on Hawthorne). They're powered by magnets that you attach to your spokes, so there are no batteries to contend with, and they mount on with your wheels so you don't need to ever remove them or even turn them on and off. The basic model is $45, which is comparable to what you can spend on a set of battery-powered blinkies, minus the batteries.
The Reelights aren't perfect -- they're too low to the ground and not as bright as I'd like, so I'm thinking about attaching a second set of lights to my helmet again, or at least carrying a spare red blinky for the worst rainy-dark-trafficky nights. I'd like to look into hub-powered lights in the future.
It's surprisingly relaxing to be able to just get on my bike and go without thinking about lights.
Most of us probably just see bike lights as a necessary but minor daily annoyance. But now that I've discovered this genre of built-in lights, I'm amazed that solutions like these aren't the norm in this country.
Huffy Bicycle Company may not yet take it for granted that their products are used by adults for transportation, at night as well as during the day. But attitudes are beginning to shift among the general population and in the rest of the bike industry.
I hope that a similar change happens with our attitudes about lights. With more people riding (often unlit) than ever before, and with the dark season upon us, it's a change that can't happen soon enough.
What are your experiences with various lighting set-ups? Do you have tips for readers that are new to riding at night?
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rode home last night around 7pm...saw a LOT (large majority) or riders either without lights or with lights so dim you couldn't see them except for a few feet behind as I passed...
batteries are cheap. hospital bills are not.
please remind your friends and even strangers as you pass that they're not visible...
maintaining them really isn't a "headache"...taxes are a headache..it a 60 second battery change job that could very well save your life...
RecommendedI agree with the Huffy website. You definitely should not ride a Huffy at night. Or in the daylight. That's the safest thing to do.
RecommendedAlthough I personally enjoy riding after dark, I disagree that lights should be built into bikes. Too many options to choose from, and it's an area you don't want to cheap out on. I'd rather choose the aftermarket light I think is brightest and best.
Moreover, not all my bikes are for riding at night, and I'd rather not have lights on the bikes I only will ever use for day riding.
I agree that IF you are going to ride at night you should take every precaution to be as visible to others as possible, which includes plenty of light. However, I bet the percentage of riders who venture out after dark is still very low out of the total bike population.
paul
RecommendedI saw a motorcycle officer pulling over unlit bikes on Williams the other night. There were a lot of them, and it wasn't dusk either - it was totally dark and had been for some time.
My headlight batteries died in the middle of my ride this morning. (I got on the bus.) I'm now considering a set of Reelights myself, if only as a backup system. In my world there is no such thing as too much light - as long as you're not blinding oncoming traffic. :D I also like the built-in feature; I am prone to forget things, so I'd like to have lights that are always on my bike, just in case. Can anyone else offer input on this system? are they easy or hard to install? Has anyone tried the ones that keep blinking after you stop? Are there other, similar systems out there?
Recommended:)
thanks!
Because people who ride without lights will suddenly buy lights if they hear about it from some random stranger? Right. Tell them to vote for OBAMA too - can't hurt, I guess!
It really *is* a headache to remember lights, remember to take them off, check for when the lights are getting dim (you often can't tell up close). And I have broken three lights by dropping them from only like 3-4 feet. Yet, as you say, they are a necessity and not an accessory.
I think I'll invest in a set of Reelights, if there are any left after this article. Any amateur (or pro) engineers know how to use a more powerful magnet or something to up the power of those lights?
A more systemic approach really is appropriate. I had an interesting experience when I bought my Trek Portland. I really like the bike, but I looked at the stock fenders and they were crap. I asked the guy about it, and he said that the full fender set just wouldn't sell elsewhere in the country, so they went sorta half-way so there would be nationwide appeal. Are we going to run into the same problem from manufactuerers who propose to make lights stock?
Another interesting point: How many people do you think are riding around Portland these days without lights? How many of them have been clobbered so far? Any? These people really *are* ninjas.
RecommendedI ride with lights on regardless of the time of day. There is a reason that Canada requires cars to have daytime running lights. I want to do everything I can to be seen by others. My front light is a fairly inexpensive, battery powered LED but I augment it at night with a rechargeable light.
RecommendedI ran into a problem with my Reelights the night after writing this, actually -- I hauled my trailer across town in the afternoon and realized before heading home, after dark, that the trailer blocks the rear light. My trailer has a reflector on the back but this still didn't seem ideal -- fortunately a friend was headed the same way and agreed to haul the thing. (Thanks Lindsay!)
So I guess I'll be getting one of my blinkies out of retirement and keeping it in the trailer's pocket disguised in a paper bag or something. Sigh.
RecommendedI have a set of reellights on my bike and I love them. While yes, I feel they are a little bit low on the bike and wish they were brighter they are great! It's nice not having to remember to have your lights all the time. While I usually use another light to blink that is higher up it nice not having to think about where did I put my light when I took it off.
RecommendedDynamo hubs rule! Whether Sturmey-Archer, Shimano, SRAM, or Schmidt, these marvellous devices will insure that you never have to worry about light again. Bolt the actual lights on securely (LEDs are fantastic, but there are some good halogens out there, too), and just ride. No worries about batteries, charge cycles, run time, opportunistic theives, or unreliable quick detach mechanisms. The initial cost may be high, but the peace of mind can't be beat.
Recommendedreally? I don't understand the problems here. I have three lights now that it's getting darker sooner, I have a serfas HL1 led which I run blinking on the front, a cateye HL-EL520 I use for solid on the front, pointing down towards the road, and a planet bike super flash (which I want to replace / add to with a princeton tec Swerve possibly helmet mounted). All you need to do is carry an additional set of rechargeables (not for all but enough of each size to make due if one dies).
RecommendedI think the problem here is same typical problem, people don't care- they don't stop for lights, don't signal, don't care if they are using lights or not. I am only concerned with my not getting hit- everyone else is on their own- until I'm driving, then I care that you are or are not using lights.
Germany is way ahead of the U.S. on the bike lighting issue. We've been discussing this in the forums(go to 'headlight shootout' in the 'tips and advice' category. The German government requires exacting bike light specifications for bike lights sold there. I've been told that bikes sold there are required to have lights.
Unlike many of us in this country, people there seem to understand the importance of good lighting for bikes. Many people riding in the Portland metro area, bike lighting seems to be an afterthought or a grudging compliance with the law (there's too many people riding with the smallest possible, most difficult to see tail lights and headlights on their bikes).
Some people around the Portland area are getting it though. I'm even seeing more people running day lighting on their bikes, like motorcycles in Oregon are required by law to have.
RecommendedFor decades, the bike light problem has frustrated me at every tunnel or setting sun. I have tried every possible solution, and been more impressed with their limitations than ability to produce light.
RecommendedThe solution has finally arrived, fairly recently, with the resurgence of generator hubs and LED headlamps and tail lamps. I leave my lights on ALL the time, day and night. The lights don't ever fade, and aren't likely to fail for decades. They are on whenever the bike is rolling, and for 5 minutes after it stops.
LED headlamps like the B&M IQ fly can really light up the road, and are engineered to not blind oncoming traffic. Generator hubs like the Schmidt and Shimano are quiet and always provide the power in the rain, ice and cold. LED taillights like the Busch and Muller are super bright, making you VISIBLE. It's very refreshing to not have to think about battery life, or if it's dark enough to warrant turning on the lights. The future of LED bike lights is even brighter, but what you need is already here. It just costs a lot. It involves and investment of $300 to $600, plus another $60 to get the generator hub built into the front wheel.
I envision that someday all bikes will be sold with lights built in; even "racing" bikes. An economy of scale could really bring the price down, although I consider the $600 I invested in my system to be more than worth it.
The Huffy website is the unfortunate product of litigation, no doubt.
My Raleigh's owner's manual doesn't outright, ahem, BAN riding at night like Huffy, but it has this to say: "Children should never ride at dawn, at dusk, or at night. Adults who chose to accept the GREATLY INCREASED RISK [of night riding] need to take extra care both riding and choosing specialized equipment..." (emphasis added)
A piece of litigation a while back essentially cost a major US bicycle manufacturer quite a bit of money because a rider was at night, without lights, and was seriously injured in an accident. Somehow the manufacturer got fingered for liability...
It's a sad world sometimes.
RecommendedYeah, the reelights are a great concept, but kind of dim and too low to the ground. I prefer a real headlight that doesn't blink but everyone expects bicycles to having blinking headlights, and so I got a pair. And for what they do, (make me look like a bicycle,) they are great, but I wouldn't recommend that people use them exclusively.
I sometimes see [what looks like] a cop in SW Portland way after dark on a bicycle without any lights (or a helmet.) I'm guessing he is some sort of private security guy, because the real police have lights, but still, when he can't do it, what are our odds that normal people will?
RecommendedI was stopped at the Hawthorne bridge a couple weeks back for not having a front light (new bike, didn't want to put a plastic mount on the front), and the officer wrote me up for a warning and gave me a plastic bag with a red/white light, mounts, a guide to safe cycling in Portland, and a cycling map of the city. All told it looked like about a $30 bag of goodies. I read an article here a few months back that answered this question, but who is actually paying for these kits that the police are handing out?
RecommendedAs a year round commuter, I considerd permanent solutions such as the Reelights and hub powered lights. Even with fenders, I get a pretty severe coating of grime on everything and opted not to mount an axle level light. I like the thought of the hub mount, but did go there due to the expense and avaialability of disk specific hubs.
I ended up geting a light and motion vega. This is an all in one rechargable light that is about 120 lumins with 2 light intensities and a flash mode. There are no wires and when I get home every night I just plug it in on the bike. It was expensive at $120 but I have used it almost every day for the past 2 years.
I recently also bought a helmet mounted light. I really like having a light at eye level and use it to reach out to drivers to make sure they see me. Same thing her, I bough a really small rechargable where everything fits on the helmet. I just plug my helmet in along with the bike every night and I am ready to go in the morning. My fianl comment, is that some one should make a commuter specific helmet with light mounts built in fore and aft. Bell went half way with the metropolis, but discontinued it.
Cheers
RecommendedGenerator hubs are the best option for anyone who rides at night. I've had the fancy rechargeable systems and the smaller battery-powered systems. The brightness of the smallest battery-powered systems is too low and the optics of the bigger battery-powered systems are marginal. The fancy rechargeable systems don't have a charge unless you are recharging it every couple days.
Hub generators provide power whenever you want it. You are never left without light because you haven't recharged your fancy system recently. In addition, the optics of many generator-powered lights are superb, and the newer LED-based lights are quite bright and have great reliability.
Anyone who rides much in the dark should seriously consider a hub generator system.
RecommendedReelights are a great idea, but they do have their problems. As said earlier they sit pretty low on the bike. Tilting them to a more upward angle can help a bit. I would still recommend another set of lights higher up, helmet or handlebar/seatpost. The other issue with Reelights is that depending on the model they may only be active while you are rolling. I suggest spending the bit more for the model with a capacitor so they have a short amount of charge for when you are at a stop light. Dynamo lights are great, way to easy to install. If you have ever taken off a wheel and installed a cycling computer then you can do it. Great article and everyone please use lights!
RecommendedHart--- "new bike, didn't want to put a plastic mount on the front" that sounds like the laze excuses that prolong this problem. I mean, come on- really???
RecommendedI run bliking serfas on front day and night and same with the planet bike super flash. This is on a new cannondale caad9 5- What's the problem with "put(ting) a plastic mount on the front"???
Dynamo lights are incredible. I had a Shimano Nexus, with a standlight, that worked wonders. I've since restored a vintage french bike, that had integrated lights, and uses a side mounted dynamo. I changed the light medium from standard incandescent bulbs to a four LED fender light (also available from Clever Cycles), and replaced the bulb in the front with a halogen/standlight combination.
It's quite nice to have the lights permanently attached to the bike, and no batteries to deal with at all.
RecommendedWe've done a bike light giveaway program for a couple of years now and people who filled out surveys noted three primary reasons they didn't have lights:
1. lights were stolen
2. couldn't afford lights
3. batteries died
In all of these cases, the common denominator is $$.
People with lower incomes will have bigger barriers to bicycle safety. It's a quandary.
Alison
RecommendedCommunity Cycling Center
Jeff----Plastic looks like shit on an all metal bike, but it's there now, so chill yourself out.
RecommendedThe ideal Portland year-round bike commuter setup would include:
RecommendedGenerator hub wired to front and rear non-blinking lights. The hub would need to be disc-brake compatible because disc brakes are better for wet weather commuting. (Schmidt SON 20s or 28s hub - about $300-350)
Full fenders. Real ones like Honjos or Berthouds, with a front mudguard to keep your feet drier and a rear mudguard out of respect to your fellow cyclists.
This obviously doesn't come cheap, and compromises work too. LED's are a big improvement over incandescent bulbs, thank goodness for rechargeable batteries, and I'm glad I never have to go back to the sidewall-eating days of the tire generator light I started with. If Interbike was any indication, the industry is starting to get it - people want bikes that are practical vehicles for everyday transportation. Hopefully the workable options will only get better and more economical.
ps - I put Reelights on my wife's bike for her birthday. They won't light your way, but they do get you seen and you don't have to ever think about them. Plus pretty theft-proof. I recommend them for city riding.
RecommendedDisclaimer: I STRONGLY ADVOCATE THE USE OF LIGHTING, AND REFLECTIVE MATERIAL AND DEVICES WHILE RIDING IN LOW-VISIBILITY CONDITIONS! With that said, food for thought - I can't resist the presented opportunity to make a point. Sure the lack of a dinosaur-burny engine makes bicycles different from other modes of transpo. Sure the lack of sheet metal makes a bicycle operator more vulnerable in traffic. Bikes are just different, and some of those differences make them inherently more risky to operate on a public right-of-way shared with motorists.
There is one difference between cars and bikes, however, that frequently gets overlooked on this site. Which is that bicycle operators have the ability to become pedestrians in the blink of an eye. It's a hair-splitting difference of perception, I'll grudgingly admit, but I will make the assertion nonetheless. In my mind there is no difference between telling me I HAVE to use a light on my bike, and telling me I HAVE to fasten a light to the hip-pocket of my pants.
If I am obligated to use special safety equipment on a bicycle, why not the same obligation while I'm a pedestrian? Ludicrous, right? After-all, can't I just dismount my bicycle while in the presence of law-enforcement, and then re-mount once the coast is clear, and avoid the obligation all together?
Requiring a pedestrian to don a helmet, and lighting should seem ridiculous to you'all. It should seem just as ridiculous to be told to do it on your bike. My point is that bicycles are an extension of the human body. To regulate them is to ostensibly regulate that same body. I complain about regulation. Not because I don't agree that lights are safe, but because there exists a golden opportunity to advance bicycles as a mode. If mandates are to be issued, why not demand motorists look-the-heck out for us, instead of the other way around?
Pedestrians enjoy a special status in the event of an accident in civil-court, and within the public perception. This special status has been tacitly extended to bicyclists until the numbers began to expand. Accepting regulation is sort of like admitting guilt. You all want a, "Bicycle Movement", and I feel that means we should be out there whether anybody likes it or not. Motorists should be carefully watching for cyclists. Bikes are the vulnerable user, the onus for their safety should be placed upon the person in the 4 ton death machine, not the other way around.
Lights are simply a good choice. I just wish that the clamor was for increased penalties for drivers who mow-down vulnerable roadway users. Serious, severe, penalties. I further wish that everyone would remember that bicycles are attached to them, and not the other way around.
RecommendedLast moth i was contemplating "The Great Bike Light Problem"and came to a different solution.
I built a daylight-visible strobe and retrofitted it into my helmet. The light puts out over 100 lumens, and runs off 2 rechargeable AA's. I haven't had to switch the batteries yet. Cost was less then $10 and now I know it is always there when I need it.
I also upgraded an old headlight using white LEDs. If someone hits me - it is not going to be because they didn't see me!
RecommendedVelo Vanguard (#5)....really? changing batteries is really that much of a headache? remembering your lights?
you get what you pay for..invest in a good set, mount them, and forget them.
or...enjoy the ticket that you have coming.
I think Adams has warned the cycling community that stricter enforcement is well on its way...like it or not.
RecommendedBlame the industry, rechargable packs are in excess of $200. That's insane for something that costs pennies to make! Further, if you have to remove your lighting system because of risk of theft it gets even more outrageous!
Well, I guess I can use that Bike Commuter tax break to buy a nice light set!
RecommendedI recently acquired the "Taillight of Doom" as my office mates have christened it. 18 LEDs in a 4" by 6" weatherproof case. $12 at Bi-Mart in the automotive section, it is sold as a emergency light for cars. It took a couple of hours to make a mounting bracket that mounts to rear rack. In blinking mode it is simply too obnoxious for a normal night riding. I save that for foggy mornings. (I am not sure, but I do not think blinking tail lights are technically legal in Oregon)
Batteries are kept hot by rotating a set of rechargeables on a bi-weekly basis. It is a hassle, but so is being dead.
RecommendedI will be getting a hub dynamo system for my next bike. A SON hub and the Schmidt E6 headlight. Currently I am using a jetlite system with a water bottle battery.
Argentius@13 - I doubt it is the product of litigation, rather the product of insurance companies. The demonization of trial lawyers has been the ad campaign of insurance companies for 25 years.
RecommendedReally.
I have fantastic lights, by the way. I highly recommend the MiNewt series. You and Adams can shove your bike light enforcement up your a$$ and get some real enforcement priorities.
Recommendedi typically run a generator hub on most of the bikes i regularly ride at night - either a schmidt (awesome. the ruler of all generator hubs. totally hands-down. utterly reliable - i have 75000 miles on one with no problems) or a shimano (the cheaper version. about 20000 miles on it, trouble-free. notchier, more friction, noticeably, than the schmidt, but cheaper). ive run lumotec and schmidt headlights. some bikes i run a dynamo-powered taillight, with or without a standlight (capacitor keeps the light on even when the bikes not moving). other times i run a battery-powered taillight. the cargo bike has a battery headlight for now, but will be getting a tire-drive "bottle" generator, which is a good option for bigger bikes, as you wont notice the higher drag all that much.
there are a TON of fantastic lighting solutions out there, one for almost every bike and price range. and its totally worth it - as someone who spends a fair amount of time riding around in traffic in the dark, i can say with conviction that lighting your bike, *especially* with good headlights, changes *everything* about how drivers interact with you at night. for the better.
RecommendedGive me a break Vance, there are obvious differences between riding a bike and walking down the road. Your viewpoint on that is skewed. Sorry, but it is. Also, if someone is wearing dark clothing and not running lights and shoots out of a side street blowing through a stop sign and I hit them, is that really my fault? Come on... "the onus for their safety should be placed upon the person in the 4 ton death machine, not the other way around" - I don't think that's fair. When I occupy the same space that vehicles drive on I've got to take my own responsibility- if I don't I deserve everything I get. Sorry, it's not all the car's fault. I dislike those who blame vehicles for everything, I all too often see bikers not doing anything righ, even worse, everything wrong.
RecommendedCoyote - blinky rear red lights are legal in OR
(C) The lighting equipment must have a red reflector or lighting device or material of such size or characteristic and so
Recommendedmounted as to be visible from all distances up to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of
headlights on a motor vehicle.
Personally, I feel that bike lights are like tattoos, you can't stop with just one.
For year round commuting, I strongly recommend multiple taillights (I have 1-2 on the bike, one on the backpack, and one on the helmet). The PB Superflash is an awesome taillight for the money.
I personally tend to go for overkill with headlights, but I'd recommend a rechargeable battery powered helmet mounted light (LED best, HID/Halogen next). And for the bike, a rechargeable battery powered system, with a alkaline powered LED system as a backup. LED flashlights (with flash feature) are a great option.
I use my alkaline systems only when I need to keep the rechargeables fresh for darker riding, or after they have been drained. Typically on a flash setting.
Alkaline (or rechargeable) powered halogen lights that use AAA, AA, or C sized cells are a waste of money. Remember those flashlights you played with as kids... Ok in the house (for a while), useless outside.
I strongly recommend against using any kind of battery powered light that requires a tool (except for a coin or flat head screwdriver) to access the batteries, or any kind that uses a button cell or any kind of battery that you couldn't find at a convience store (ask yourself this: If fails at the wrong time, how are you going to get batteries into it?)
TriMet and other agencies sometimes will give away lights that use button cells. As bike lights they are only as good as what you paid for them.
Ride Safe!
RecommendedK'Tesh
Petzel headlamp.
And not the cheap ones, the Advatikk XP.
Very bright, but at $69 dollars the brightest option for under $100.
RecommendedJeff #31, Oh I totally agree with you. Please don't get me wrong. I'm simply trying to elevate awareness of ALL the ramifications of regulation, and not just the positive one's. I simply cannot support the assertion that lights are a bad idea, or that being personally responsible on the public right-of-way isn't obligatory. You've cherry-picked a worst-case though, and I stand by my statement. The onus of vulnerable roadway user's safety should be on motorists, and not the other way around.
Lights - good. Regulation - bad.
RecommendedI got a red blinkie at Fred Myers, sold for walkers, for $8 and zip tied it to my helmet, so I always have it, it's nice & high where it can be seen. My little Cat Eye on the front runs in blink mode usually, and it comes off easily when I go to the store so it does'nt get stolen, like what happened to my son's. Most of my 'night' riding is at 5:30am, and I am always amazed at the number of people I see, or barely see, who don't use lights. They usually don't have helmets on, ride the wrong way, smoking a butt, etc. Some people don't want to learn.
Recommendedmy wife and I run generator hubs with Inoled LED lamps up front. As they create next to no drag, and the bulbs will likely never burn out, we just leave them on all the time. It helps even during the day to get noticed. The Inoled can be run with a battery pack instead, if you prefer. The generator hub/lamp system is an expensive option up front, but when I add up all the $30 to $40 blinkies I've gone through in my lifetime, it actually seems incredibly cheap.
On the backside we run RealLites. These require a few sets of rechargeable AAs, available at Fred Meyer. No one misses us with these taillights. They are visible in all conditions without being too bright. I recommend them highly and am mystified as to why no local shop carries them. $40 each from:
http://www.reallite.com/RLHome.htm
RecommendedDinotte Lights are AMAZING. They are rechargeable, compact, lightweight, and made in the USA. They hold a charge really well and I leave the battery pack on the bike while I charge. Sure they are expensive, but if they save me once, I can justify them.
RecommendedVance, are you saying cyclists have ZERO responsibility? If not, then where's the line? I think equal responsibility, each has 100%.
RecommendedRegardless of the light you choose, AIM IT CORRECTLY!!!!
I see a ton of people with blinky lights attached to their backpack. When they are riding on the bike, they are leaned over and only airplanes can see the light.
I highly recommend attaching the light to the frame. Once attached, have someone hold the bike, and walk behind the bike at least 50 feet or so. Make sure the light is aimed so you get the bright blast there.
I'll second the PlanetBike Superflash. The staccato blink pattern grabs attention like nothing else I have seen.
--Bill
RecommendedIs there an informed, reasonably comprehensive overview of common bicycle lighting options anywhere? I looked through BikePortland's links and didn't find any obvious candidates.
I am making due with a Cat's Eye light on the front and a Blinky on the back, but it's not much. I don't even know what half of you are talking about with all the jargon being thrown around -- dynamo hubs? generator hubs? LED headlights/headlamps? I guess you need an engineering degree to ride a bike in Portland after dark! At least I know what Reelights are now, so thanks for that.
Recommended"Lights should be built into bicycles as a matter of course, or at least sold along with them in the way that wheels, brakes, and handlebars are — not as accessories but as indispensable, functional parts of the bike."
This would be fine if every bike's only purpose was commuting. On a mountain bike or a BMX bike it would be the first thing that gets smashed. Add to that that most lights look ugly and just add clutter to an otherwise beautiful bike, like a track bike. Sorry, I like my bikes to look cool. At night it doesn't matter how ugly your lights are, you can't really see the bike. That is when they serve their function and when they are necessary. It is also one more thing that someone can steal off your bike when it's parked up. Most of us have a backpack or messenger bag with us when we are biking to carry our lock, tools, beer, etc. and there is usually room for some lights.
RecommendedI run with lights. A good bright red blinker on my backpack and a headlamp that I clip to my bike when it's dark.
I appreciate some light on a bike. I ride the springwater corridor from the sellwood to downtown and back. I've had lots of close calls with unlit bikes, pedestrians and wildlife.
Unfortunately I've had almost as much of a problem with over-bright headlamps on bikes heading the opposite way. Last night I almost hit a pair of unlit pedestrians (in dark clothes with a black dog) because the oncoming bike's headlamp was blindingly bright and I couldn't see a thing.
These ultra-bright lights are a point of frustration for me, but honestly, they are better than bike ninjas...
RecommendedDarn it Duncan you made me go look: ORS 816.350 Prohibitions on number and kind of lights for certain vehicles.
(12) Except as otherwise allowed under this section, all flashing lights are prohibited on all motor vehicles on any street or highway except for turn signals, hazard lights and headlight flashing systems described in ORS 816.050.
There are exceptions noted for emergency vehicles and work vehicles, but no exceptions for any private vehicles, except headlight flashers on motorbikes. However, the above specifically does say motor vehicles. Prolly not worth time to figure out. Blinkies have become ubiquitous, and road users instantly know a self propelled person is ahead - that is a good thing! The Taillight of Doom is simply too bright to consciously expose others to it's wrath for mere darkness.
RecommendedBattery lights are wasteful and environmentally unfriendly. Most european cyclists use generator / dyno lights; but these bright, easy to use, always mounted on the bike, no batteries required lights seem to have disappeared from the American landscape for some inexplicable reason.
RecommendedHart, # 15: OODT's paying for the lights. Read all about it: http://bikeportland.org/2008/09/25/bta-police-bureau-launch-latest-incarnation-of-bike-light-education-program/
And ODOT's getting a deal. Figure 100 light sets at $3000 (less, really, due to Planet Bike discount). How quickly could one crash cause $3000 worth of expense? Police on the scene, ambulance, hospital time, insurance companies, lost wages...
Recommended....and if front and back lights are not already enough to take under consideration - I was blown away how invisible bikers are from the side...
RecommendedFor those wanting to investigate different bike lighting systems, or create their own, here is a thorough site with a lot of information: http://nordicgroup.us/s78/
RecommendedI ride with a LED system-- powerful AA-powered flashlight in front/AAA-powered Planet Bike Super Flash in back. They are light and compact. With rechargable NiMH batteries freshened every couple days, they are always bright.
Christian, the problem you're experiencing is probably stray light more than over-brightness. It could be partly due to people not having their lights aimed properly, but also because many of the lights people are buying here in the states probably don't confine the beam pattern to the road where its needed.
Do a search for Busch & Müller bike lights. This manufacturer has an excellent product line and a great website with good demo pics.
RecommendedIf you do choose to remind friends and strangers as they pass, do so gently and keep in mind that receiving a reminder a dozen times in one commute when you're caught without a replacement battery, well, you get the idea.
RecommendedWhat's the best lighting system for my $2500 commuter bike? It needs to work for my entire commute to the office, which is about 1.5 miles. Waterproof a big plus, mostly so I can convince people I intend to ride through the winter (but never really get around to it).
RecommendedBurr,
"no batteries required lights seem to have disappeared from the American landscape for some inexplicable reason"
Americans don't buy them, thats why they've 'disappeared'. The lights are cheap, but folks scoff and the price of having to have a schmit/shimano/sram hub into a wheel.
RecommendedMy solution is a Superflash zip-tied through grommets to my bag, and a dynamo front light. I never forget either, and honestly, I agree that changing batteries is a much smaller bother than being dead, or in a wheel chair.
Hi,
What is the etiquette (if any) to inform someone that they are unseen, such as the person wearing a grey/blue jacket (aka fog color) with no lights early this morning. Or people whose lights are covered by their jacket, luggage or scarf?
Just Curious.
PS I use a Planet Bike Blaze half watt LED for a headlight and it's freakishly bright if you want to be seen for $25. I saw a cat's eyes reflecting a block and a half away.
RecommendedIf you're out without a light, and you get yelled at, it might also have somehting to do with you riding side-by-side with your buddy, in dark clothing, on the wrong side of the road.
Sorry, I try to be polite, but that was just too close to a collision for my taste.
RecommendedPatrick (#39)
Easy mistake to make, but there is a big difference between your "Realites" and the "Reelights" I was talking about
Recommendedhttp://www.reelight.com/
and thus the price difference. Reelights use no batteries. The magnets that attach to your spokes basically turn your wheel into a wireless dynamo that charges and powers the lights. Once you get going, capacitors keep the lights blinking for a couple minutes while stopped at a light or whatever. Pretty cool technology and you never have to worry about running out of juice.
Vance (#25) - Good post, but your argument has a fatal flaw. When you convert to being a pedestrian, you are no longer traveling at bike speeds. The reason why bikes need lights is because people can travel 20+ mph on them.
To be honest, I wouldn't mind if light use for pedestrians was mandatory on the Springwater - it's hard to see people out towards Gresham when they walk in dark clothes with headphones 6 abreast on moonless/cloudy nights. (which is why I ride a reasonable speed with my NiteRider on high)
Agreed the onus should be on motorists. Bike lights are more necessary to prevent bike/bike collsions, IMO.
Jeff (#33) - Onus means "burden of proof", not sole responsibility. Motorists should have the burden of proof - cars outweigh bicycles by a factor of 50-150, and cause proportionally more damage. Also, "burden of proof" does not mean the other party has no responsibility - we still hold theives responsible for theft, even though the burden of proof rests with the state (innocent until proven guilty - at least in theory)
RecommendedRico #54>>>
I don't tend to say anything to people who have no lights. For the ones who have lights that are too dim (from low batteries) or a pointed off in a useless direction, I'll quite nicely say "Umm, just so you know, the battery on your rear light seems to be really low" or "Your rear light is pointed really high so I didn't even realize you had one..."
Recommendedi think you all need to have more sympathy to those who bike to something like a concert where they just wan to bike to the event, then bike home. normally, you don't want to bring a bag into these events, but you also don't want to leave your lights on your bike, becuase inevitably, some crackhead will steal them... so whats the answer?
i personally think you can have 1 LED light built in your seat tube and head tube, sunk into a little silver dish like a headlamp, and covered with a little plastic lens, maybe faceted... nice and flush. on the top tube, there would be a place to slip in a couple AAA's... and while we're at it, how about a microSD mp3 player and headphone jack? Manifest exhibitors.. i'm looking in your direction.
RecommendedThe Reelight is pretty neat, especially how it's powered.
Seems like it wouldn't be all that hard to extend a wire from hub level up to a light on the bar?
I also really like these Frog Knog flexi clip-on lights:
http://londoncyclechic.blogspot.com/2008/05/cyclechic-shop-frog-knog-front-and-rear.html
Clip them on your helmet, your bike, your bag, whatevah.
RecommendedI build my own lighting systems for my bikes. I use tail and side marker lights made for motor vehicles, and have been searching for suitable front lights until I discovered MR-16 LED bulbs. I found one that has a 15 degree spot beam with 32 5mm LEDs that runs on a 12V system and puts out about 900 lumen if the data sheet that came with the bulb is trustworthy, or about 30 lumen if they mean the entire bulb when talking about per element instead of the individual LEDs. As bright as it seems just hooking it up in daylight I think the 900 lumen figure is accurate. The beam seems to be fairly controlled with a bright center spot and a small amount of spill light. I'm using a 12V 1.3aH SLA battery to run the lights, and I get about 5 hours burn time on high beam with everything lit, 20 hours of just the tail light.
Recommendedaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh no no no mp3 player on bike!! deaf pedestrians and joggers are enough of a road hazard, no deaf bicyclists please!! please!!!
Sorry, I may have over-reacted.
Recommended:)
Another great experience with a shimano hub generator- Put it in after a so-so experience with a tire mounted generator (doesn't work so great in wet conditions). I love not having to remember batteries, and the drag is so low, I almost always use them as daytime running lights. I use the Bush and Mueller standlight equipped front and back lights.
When it's really icky outside I sometimes suppliment with plastic blinkies.
I'd be curious to hear how people position their front lights. The B&M lights are designed to be mounted low and pointed at the road, but I extended the wires to mount it to my handlebars. With my completely urban commute for me the purpose of the light is more for drivers and others to see me than to help me actually see the road.
It's really hard to tell how visible you are to others- I was thinking of having a friend take my bike out with my gear so that I could see how visible "I" am.
Two caveats on blinking lights- it's a bit harder for people to judge your speed when the light isn't constant, and I've read some evidence that drunks are drawn to blinking lights.
RecommendedOK, this is worth looking at as we all ponder the options available for lighting. This is a link to a story about wind powered bike lights:
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=762845
Recommendedwell now, Velo Vanguard...seems like bike lights have you all worked up...such a trivial thing for which you apparently already prescribe...
I suggest decaff coffee from now on...
RecommendedThanks for doing a story about lights. I don't know if Reelights are the best solution but people do need to make an effort to get illuminated. I am consistently amazed by the number of people I see with no light or even reflective dressed all in black speeding through the Portland night. No need to be a bike ninja.
I don't have a perfect system buy mine works pretty well.
For the rear I use two Planet Bike Superflashes, one on the helmet, the other on my rack. The one on the rack is screwed on is such a way that you need a wrench to remove it (unless you broke it off).
For the front I have a small Cateye led blinky attached to my hub shell and reflective table on the rim.
On my handlebars I have a 1 watt led Planet Bike super flash and a 1/2 watt Serfes Led.
The redundancy means that I don't end up totally in the dark even if one light fails and when all are going I'm pretty visable. I also have reflective tape on my fenders and rear rack.
The whole set up of lights cost about $130 which is cheap compared to a trip to the doctor, or worse an ambulance ride for $1500. Be safe out there, lights really do help. Also, lights help drivers see us at dusk or when it's foggy, not just when it is pitch black.
RecommendedHuffy would make that statement because Huffy is the company that was sued into bankruptcy by a legal team representing a fool who road at night with little or no reflectors. Read up people.
RecommendedThe medical bills of those of us stupid enough to ride with minimal or no lighting, bright clothing or retroreflective devices should not have to be carried by those of us who understand and know our limitations riding in a world of fools and malcontents who take pleasure in menacing others. PS Dynamo hubs rock.
The Reelights don't call. I've got a Planet Bike Superflash mounted on my rack, a Blackburn Mars 2.0 on the loop on the back of my Showers Pass jacket, which also has tons of reflective stripes, a Planet Bike blinkie of some ilk mounted to the rear of my Bell Metro Helmet, a Petzl E+Light on the front of my helmet (5 lighting modes! weighs nothing!), and, best of all, a Schmidt SON generator and a B&M IQ Fly front light. I never, ever worry about being caught out after dark.
Oh, and full Honjo fenders with mudflaps. These lights have been on some amazingly long, sucky wet rides, and are still working. The IQ Fly has a sensor; I leave it in Auto, and it turns on when it thinks it needs to, like descending onto the Sunset Max TC parking garage.
I don't have a car payment (do have a car; loooong paid for), so I have no problem whatsoever investing in high quality bike lighting.
That said, you can get adequate lights for less than this. They just won't last as long. As Joel up there said (hi Joel!), he's still on his same SON hub at some enormous mileage.
I do have a drawer full of dead bike lights, some of which were not cheap. Many with long-dead custom rechargable battery packs.
If you don't want to spring for the SON, Shimano makes a generator hub for less.
RecommendedI use the better of the two cheaper bolt-on Shimano dynamo hubs (more symerrical and a lot smoother than the Nexus dynamo hub). These can be really hard to find in the US but all over the place in Europe. CityBikes sells them though, $60 I believe. For a headlight I use a B&M Lumotec IQ Fly (abt $100 and worth every penny). This combination is so smooth, bright and durable that I run it %100 of the time. For the rear I use a Planet Bike blinky (either the $14 or $26 kind will do). I heartily recommend reflective tape, pedal reflectors, tires with reflective sidewalls and riding in a straight line rather than sticking to the curb and swerving aroud parked cars.
Don't bother with those button-battery powered gummy lights, their light output is paltry and the batteries are so hard to find/expensive that people are way more likely to let the batteries drain to nothing before they do anything about it.
RecommendedInteresting, but in many jurisdictions 'blinky' white lights on the front are prohibited by the traffic act ... yet they still seem to be sold and used [Police here do not enforce traffic laws for bicycles ... after all, they're just toys].
Recommendedone thing I really like about my old Schwinn cruiser is the giant front generator headlight. It's classy as hell and bright! and no batteries! I can't seem to get the rear light to work, so I have to rely on a blinkie back there. The most useful lights I've gotten were also at Clever Cycles. They're rubber and you just stretch them over your handlebar and seatpost. they have a loop that attaches to a clip. they're bright LED's and the batteries have so far lasted me about six months with regular use. And they're easy to remove and put back on if you're worried about them getting stolen.
RecommendedGreat article and thanks for the tip on the Reelights. I have a head light that is powered by a battery that sits in the water cage (it was way too expensive...but it works well). I have one blinky on the rear of my bike and three blinkies on my backpack. I mostly don't run all three at the same time but it is nice to have spares as I've been caught with a dead one on occasion.
RecommendedTwo lights in the front two in the back. The chances of both going dim at the same time are slim. I use Cateye or Planet bike. no problem running into forest park pitch black. Decent brightness at a decent price. easy mount & Quick release for running into the store. Try to get some with 2x or 4x AA or AAA. then Invest in a smart charger. inexpensive.
Please avoid helmet mounted for street use. I am considering a Measure to outlaw them, as I have been blinded many times and almost crash or run into peds !
RecommendedGreat article Elly...and I'm actually kind of shocked to see that I am the first to comment on it.
I wanted to say that I share your feelings. In fact, one of the reasons that I often took the Dutch bike that was on loan to me to work was because of its built in lighting and fender system. I never had to worry about whether my batteries were fresh--or worse whether or not I had the lights with me.
I too hope that 'practical' lights become more standard in this country. I'm looking forward to seeing this technology evolve as the demand increases.
Recommendedok... that's really weird... something must be screwed up with the site. when I initially looked at this article just two minutes ago... there were ABSOLUTELY NO COMMENTS. now after I submit what unfathomably appeared to be the first comment, it says my comment is "awaiting moderation" and that I am commenter number 74! Has anyone else had this "bug" Jonathan?
Recommended#73. No, I'll stick with my helmet light, on flash, thank you. Left turns across busy roads, I aim it right at a motorist. Helmet light is not a retina sear model, but it is noticeable.
RecommendedI had an interesting experience when I bought my Trek Portland. I really like the bike, but I looked at the stock fenders and they were crap. I asked the guy about it, and he said that the full fender set just wouldn't sell elsewhere in the country, so they went sorta half-way so there would be nationwide appeal. Are we going to run into the same problem from manufactuerers who propose to make lights stock?
I believe you've hit the nail on the head. What I think would be helpful is some sort of "add-on" package that would work well with a bike someone is purchasing and would be cheaper to purchase as a package than as separate items. Perhaps one package that would work with a manufacturer's entire line of "urban bikes" - something along those lines? I could see shops that sell used bikes doing something similar for folks who are totally overwhelmed by the choices. It wouldn't necessarily appeal to those of us with fussier preferences in gear, but hey - the idea is to reach the most number of people.
I've come to dearly love the Shimano generator hub that came stock on my Breezer and how I don't really need to think about my lighting all that much. I know the Schmidt/SON hubs are a better product with less drag, but the Shimanos are great for "ordinary riders" like myself.
I wish the Reellights came in a version that would be doable for a trailer. Ah well, life can't be perfect. ;)
RecommendedStrangely enough, I started a thread about this on the forums at
http://bikeportland.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2499
The heck with lights- why can't people just wear light-colored clothing? They'd stand that nuch more chance of being seen with even minimal light. I'm constantly amazed at the "rain" jackets I see that are dark blue or even black.
RecommendedThanks to everyone for the recommendations and advice. My Dutch city bike, like most European bikes, came with attached lighting, but it's not great. The rear light uses AA batteries that have to be replaced or recharged. The tire-generator front light is mounted low (about even with the top of the wheel), which is great for seeing potholes and other road obstacles, but totally inadequate to alert a driver who might be pulling out of a parallel parking space on your right, as I almost found out the hard way a month or so ago. Plus it's not very bright and the tire drag is, well, a drag.
I looked into retrofitted hub generator lights and wasn't willing to pay half the cost of the bike itself to have the hub rebuilt and lighting installed. So I hauled out an old REI camping headlamp, which can be lashed to my front handlebars in 4 seconds and detached just as fast, or I can wear it on my head (under the helmet) if I'm in a particularly dark area of town. So I don't have to use the drag light unless I'm in a dark area, or my headlight battery goes out. And I pop an old red blinky on the back of my pannier or helmet.
Again, the drawback for all of them is replacing or recharging batteries. And none of the lights are really all that bright, but then most of my riding is in pretty well lighted parts of town. So I can probably get by with my current cheap, adequate system, as the only hassle is recharging batteries, but I wish more commuter bikes came equipped with a front and rear, no drag, no steal hub generator system, like the Breezers do.
RecommendedPlanet bike sells a party pack with both front/rear light for not too much coin. Put spare batteries in your pack and *always* have this stuff with you. If you swap the batteries out stick fresh ones back in your pack.
RecommendedAnother reasons that Americans haven't bought into generator systems in a bigger way is that they can be fussy to install and fussier to maintain. In Portland's wet climate and hilly topography, it's remarkably easy for a wire to short out or come loose and the rider has no idea where to begin looking. It is annoying to have to go to a bike shop every time something very minor goes wrong with your bike, and with battery lights all one has to do is change batteries.
Then too, side-mount generators don't last more than a season or two, hub-based systems are heavy and expensive, and both cause drag.
I'm not saying that generator systems are bad, just that lost of bicyclists find them inconvenient for one reason or another. That's why they're a harder sell.
(Disclaimer: for budgetary and other reasons I use a Planet Bike 1-watt Blaze in front and a SuperFlash in rear. Both take rechargable batteries.)
RecommendedWhile lights can have their maintaining annoyances, I think on the whole, they're a lot easier to maintain then say, maintaining a car- so I'm pretty grateful to just worry about replacing batteries, and misplacing my lights.
I really wish that bike shops would start carrying retroreflective gear. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retroreflector
RecommendedIt's sold at motorcycle shops in sticker form (perfect for side lighting), and as halo bands. http://www.reflectivedecals.com/haloebay.htm These cloth bands fit conveniently around a helmet and shine like a light beacon anytime light is around- i.e. the car that doesn't see you does-because retro reflective light shines back to the source, directly back to the person's vehicle lights.
Good, ever-current article, Elly. I notice no commenters have reacted by admitting that they don't ride with lights at night, dammit! That's a lot of Portlanders not commenting.
Others have broached that whole responsibility discussion, so here's just what I ride with:
A 20W 12V halogen MR-16 20 degree spot (non-strobe) headlamp mounted in a stainless steel creamer in front on one bike or an 11W 12V sealed-beam incandescent headlamp (with a great pattern on the road) mounted in an old English teapot on another bike (both lamps are bright & very light - obviously not ultralight - but cooler and more effective than low-to-medium-cost disposable plastic junk) (I also have stuff like a 1 W LED steady/strobe mounted behind the lens aperture of an old aluminum Olympus XA 35mm pocket camera plus other sugar bowl and espresso headlamps, etc., 'cause this stuff's just fun to make), a .25W 12V amber xenon German snowplow strobe on the rear rack (visible in daylight -- plus yellow is like 200+% more visible to the human eye at night than red) , and a commercially-made sidelight (white front/red rear) mounted out the left handlebar grip (swept-back bars).
I also never ride without Glo-Glovs which have 3M Reflexite material on 'em and make hand signals much more visible. Since most trips on Portland streets mean a minimum 25 mile ride from my house, I usually wear a Camelbak; this particular model pack's outer fabric happens to be entirely Illuminite which reflects white in headlights. There is also an electroluminescent spiral running down our bikes' (my wife's & mine) downtubes which flashes an eerie, unnatural blue in the dark (mostly kinda useful for side-visibility at intersections).
Every couple weeks, some automotive operator comments favorably on all this active illumination or the gloves. The sidelight on the handlebar really causes traffic to stand off beside the bike; I think the following drivers' perception is something like, "it's a bike light, so it must be another bike," and they maneuver around it accordingly; whatever, it's affect is really noticeable from the saddle, in terms of passing space - oddly, even in daylight.
RecommendedAshley @#82
Bike Gallery has reflective strips and stickers.
Performance Bike Shop sells jerseys with "illumiNITE" retroreflective panels. On the jersey I have, the panels run the entire length of the sleeves, plus there is a large panel on the back. Here's a link the men's jersey: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=26089&estore_ID=1863
The black panels are the ones with illumiNITE. They glow when lit. Only knock I have on the jersey is the zipper is over-sized and stiff.
RecommendedI agree lights are safe. However I can not believe people still do not talk about the biggest cause of car/bike confrontations. The real problem is MAIN ROADS. I bike most of the time, but I also own a car that I use when needed. Latley I am so fustrated to see people riding their bikes down narrow main roads like they are owed the ability to do so. GET OFF MAIN ROADS!
A perfect example is NE ALBERTA street. I should never see a single bike do anything but cross Alberta. Two streets south is Going street that is wide and traffic free. I will bet my left hand that if you sent 1,000 bikers down this road and 1,000 bikers down alberta you will have way more issues with car/bike problems on Alberta. Lights or not!
It is awesome that there are bike rout maps around town but they only show the bike lanes and bike roads. Someone should publish a biker for bikers map that shows how it is possible to get around town without ever traveling on a MAIN ROAD.
RecommendedThe bike light problem that irks me the most is the manufacturers such as Cateye and Planet Bike will make a great light and change the mounting bracket or the design of the light and the way it mounts so that your lights are not interchangeable with your different mounting brackets on your other bikes. A pain in the ass and a boondoggle that these manufacturers ought to be ashamed of.
Also, the mounting brackets for racks and other accessories are often pieces of crap. The accessory will be of quality but the brackets junk.
We need someone with ethics to build our stuff.
RecommendedOh, and generator wheels just spin uselessly in the rain. I've wasted over $200 on a quality German generator (with crappy mounting hardware and fasteners).
Recommended@87, generator wheels typically refer to hub generators, instead of the tire-roller type you're talking about. The tire roller ones can work OK if the tire, fork, and generator itself are well-matched, but this is seldom the case on typical bikes in the US. The hub generator kind work beautifully, but require you to build the wheel around the generator, making the up-front retrofit cost discouraging. Once you have one, though, it's hard to accept the general hassle of battery lights. Try to imagine selling -- or wanting -- a car or motorcycle with clamp-on battery powered lights. But on bikes, anything else seems exotic?
RecommendedI'm always amazed at how poorly the brackets for things such as lights, bells, racks etc seem to work. Am I the only rider out there that has to retrofit almost every single product to actually work effectively (ie not be blocked by some other piece of gear)? Don't get me wrong- it's cool to feel like Macgyver when you're done, but man! Plug and play would be more fun. Don't get me wrong- I know bikes are all different shapes and sizes, but if you spend $50 on a headlight it would be nice to know the bracket is worth more than $.02!
RecommendedWhat about having cops that are doing bike light checks increase their fines to cover the cost of giving lights to the bikers who are pulled? As in... you get a ticket for 20-40$ more and they hand you lights during the process which you have to put on before moving on. If you've just got low batteries, it seems like you should get a warning. I'm not saying this should be a primary means of getting lights, but while we're protecting people from themselves, might as well save them from being regularly cited.
if you're biking without lights on at night and i bowl you over with my car, i'll feel bad, but I'll still think you're a dummy
Recommended#89 and anyone else who has problems mounting lights.
RecommendedWhile it should seem fairly straight forward to mount your lights, I can tell you it can be quite a daunting task. I work in a shop and mount at least 2 a day, and no two are the same, even from the same brand. I personally keep a box of stuff around just for mounting lights, such as various shims and brackets that may not be sold with your light. All good shops have a few tricks up their sleeves for mounting lights, and should be happy to help, (for free providing you purchased your lights there and no additional parts are needed) if you are having problems. Don't feel bad, and never be ashamed to ask for help from your local shop. Most of us are happy to help and want you to be safe.
#82 "In Portland's wet climate and hilly topography, it's remarkably easy for a wire to short out or come loose and the rider has no idea where to begin looking."
Say more about that, please. No problems with generator hub or light, once I got the solder joint on the spade connector right. In the same period of time, the battery on my MiNewt died 2 times... (fortunately still under warranty). What sort of problems do you see, and how often?
As for mounting lights - I agree. Once you get past the basic handlebar mount, it is a pain in the butt! The LBS and I have strategized and finally come up with a mount to my front rack that works quite well, but it required re-purposing some rack brackets and cutting them up a bit, plus a fun visit to the fastener elves at Falk Ace Hardware.
And just TRY nicely mounting a Planet Bike Superflash to your old Jim Blackburn rear rack (hint: the Planet Bike rack mount almost works, but requires more aforementioned bracket remodeling)
RecommendedI have a special fondness for the Down Low Glow from RockTheBike.com; check out http://rockthebike.com/lights/downlowglow. I've discovered that cars give me a wider berth than before, as if they're afraid to drive through the pool of light that the Down Low Glow casts on the pavement.
Everything else is pretty traditional, except perhaps for the K'Tesh-like overkill:
- a Cateye Opticube velcro'd to my helmet, so I can have light where I'm looking, not just where the bike is pointing.
- two more Opticubes attached to the handlebars. I may remove these when I finally get a headlight that I like for the hub dynamo. (See below.)
- a Reelight taillight powered by four magnets instead of two. (I couldn't get the front light to work with the fold of my Brompton, so I put all four magnets on the rear wheel.) I got the kind with a capacitor, and I'm not sure it's any brighter with four magnets, but it stays lit for several minutes after I stop riding.
- a Son hub dynamo that powers a headlight and taillight from Brompton. (The headlight leaves something to be desired, so I'm replacing it with a Schmidt Edelux headlight.)
- a Planet Bike taillight.
- a reflective vest with built-in blinking LEDs from LEDtronics.com.
I recently had someone on the Burke Gilman trail in Seattle liken me to a Christmas tree, which suits me just fine. All of this lighting is bound to be cheaper than a funeral.
Recommendedi am a big fan of the dyno-hub but that makes it impractical or impossible to switch bikes. i've ridden them for years and have two bikes that spin them.
i love the Frog lights, the button-battery powered gummy lights that FauxPorteur was naysaying (#70). They aren't for lighting the road they're for being seen, which i've found them to be quite effective at, even after a year of use. FauxPorteur is wrong, the battery they take is very inexpensive and is about the most common watch battery out there. They go from my road bike, to my Zoobomber, to my old Huffy, (Yes, i ride a Huffy. At night, no less.) to my trailer with great ease and without any mounting brackets. Some one else in town likes them too, because the jerk stole them off my Huffy this very night. So if FauxPorteur or anyone has a set they don't want, i'll buy them. (mosha13atjunodotcom)
What i can't stand is these obnoxiously bright lights that are becoming popular. They are blindingly unfriendly. My Frogs with their paltry light output work just fine. How do i know? Because other road users react to SEEING me.
Less is more.
RecommendedAfter experience several upset drivers this week b/c of me taking the lane and slowing down in prep of a left turn, I would love to have some sort of signaling system for bikes. It looks like there are a couple of choices out there. Anyone have any experience with them?
RecommendedThe ultimate dynamo light is the Schmidt Edelux LED light. Peter White cycles is taking orders (they are out of stock at the moment).
I don't have mine yet, but there is a rider on the Springwater trail who has one and it is one of the brightest lamps I have seen.
In my experience, hub dynamos are maintenance free. I am surprised more people in Portland don't use them and drop those annoying cheap blinking LED lamps (front, rear blinkys ok).
RecommendedThis is directed to anyone who has moved here, bought a bike for transportation, and has never driven a car on a windy rainy November Portland night.
Find a friend with a car. Get behind the wheel and drive a mile or two. If you can't muster up some rain, turn on the wipers anyway and have your friend lean out the passenger side and squirt water on the windshield.
Portland's yellow street lights hardly show up through the rain and the slap-slap of the windshield wipers. Bicyclists without lights (invariably wearing dark polar fleece) are totally INVISIBLE.
If this experience doesn't persuade you bike lights (and reflectors) are needed, nothing will. Not even the unlit cyclist who is now riding around on your car's front bumper.
RecommendedIt was noted (somewhere in these comments) that money was the biggest concern for those not using lights.
So it's baffling to me that U.S. bike shops don't generally carry these lights:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442588131&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692895&bmUID=1224792038694
$3! There's also a 2-LED, waterproof version for $4.50. Both versions take computer motherboard batteries, so you can go to Free Geek and pay $0.25 for used but tested battery replacements.
Those Canadians know what's up.
RecommendedThose Turtle lights are the bomb.
i am sure they improved the durabilty of the cord since i last found them for sale.
Thanks for the link!
Loosie
RecommendedNo, bikelights are NOT a pain in the ass. They are part of the deal.
An unlit bike came a foot away from nailing me last night when the rider blew a stop sign, just as I was crossing through an intersection. I'm lit front, back AND side.
It just blows my mind....she said, "sorry". I ride so I can pay more in hospital bills instead of car maintenance, NOT! The $ is for safety.
Dedicate some officers to stupid bikers I say!
RecommendedI've been biking in PDX for 10 years and have never had my blinky lights stolen. I leave my lights on my bike all year. Rare is the occasion when I take them off to go into a building(Blazer games are the exception). I did lose my rear light one night riding back from Beaverton through washington park... lucky for me there was a guy handing out lights for donations across the broadway bridge - that is what I love about Portland!
RecommendedDriving my car last night I stopped at a stop sign and waited for a lit bike to pass, I couldn't see anymore bikes at all but luckilly I did pause a couple of moments and sure enough some unlit bikes came accross in front of me. They gave me a freindly wave for waiting for them, but they were quite lucky that I didn't pull out after that first lit bike passed or they would have ben hurting
RecommendedI really don't understand the whining about money for batteries or money to buy a light. You buy No gas, No insurance, Probably the bike is paid for so No loan payments, Free parking, No $800 tune ups. No expensive repairs. I'm not going to try and drive from Portland to Eugene with a burned out headlight because I thought it was too expensive. People need to learn how to act and think responsible, and be acountable, Don't whine if you get pulled over by a policeman and you get a ticket, it may be worth the price of a ticket if it makes you use a light and saves your life someday
Recommendeddsaxena #96: I was playing with SafeTurn lights for a while, (safeturn.com) I stopped using them though, they were just slightly too much trouble to deal with, (they tended to work their way loose from my gloves so I had to constantly re-adjust them,) and they tended to flash every time I hit a bump in the road and required that I was very particular about how I signaled my turns, (and sometimes you just don't have time to signal them perfectly.) But in theory, it seems like a good product, so it may just be my bad luck. I have a Down Low Glow now, (see #94 for details,) and I expect that it makes my reflective gloved hands easier to see, although I don't really know for sure about that one...
Recommended$30 seatpost w/ a built-in light is a bargain:
http://www.swobo.com/catalog/product_info_h.php?cPath=1346&products_id=800
RecommendedMy cheapo front Schwin 1-LED front light and cheap rear red LED lights I bought at wal-mart seem to be going strong.
RecommendedPaul #86
Bikes are perfectly appropriate on Alberta. I appreciate the frustration you might feel when going slow in a car along this route. The road is narrow so cyclists do have to take the lane much of the time. I don't ride on this road all day long but I will go a few blocks because I'm visiting a few establishments along this street.
Your argument is stronger on a road like MLK but cyclists have a right to be on any street in the city.
RecommendedI have been using a Blackburn X8 for a year now and I love it. For my night riding it is great because it has two lights- so one can be blinky and the other on bright so I can see the road (and the stuff in the road) clearly. The only hassle is that you have to take it off everywhere you go because its so spendy, but I would never go back to an LED now.
Recommended